About

Submitted by Joint Center on Mon, 03/09/2015 - 2:30pm

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Washington, DC that creates ideas that improve the socioeconomic status and civic engagement of African Americans.

Founded in 1970 to support newly-elected Black officials who were moving from civil rights activism into governance (history here), the Joint Center quickly evolved into America’s Black think tank. It became the policy hub of government officials and public intellectuals concerned about the future of African American communities, such as Maynard Jackson, Shirley Chisholm, John Hope Franklin, Mary Frances Berry, and William Julius Wilson.

Currently, the Joint Center is focused on developing solutions to diversify congressional staff and to equip workers with skills to succeed in the evolving economy.

The Joint Center emphasizes high quality data and analysis. Our policy solutions result from input from community members, advocates, business and labor leaders, government officials, and academics. We tailor our solutions to be relevant and accessible to communities to maximize impact. We also prioritize communication and relationships across racial lines to strengthen the nation's pluralistic society.

To connect ideas and political action, the Joint Center relies on key partners. The Joint Center has close ties to the Congressional Black Caucus, the National Organization of Black County Officials, and the African American Mayors Association. The Joint Center also works closely with many civil rights and economic development organizations, social innovation and technology organizations, millennial activists, community organizations, congressional staff associations, the National Association for Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, and several think tanks.

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Washington, DC that creates ideas that improve the socioeconomic status and civic engagement of African Americans." data-share-imageurl="">